Annie’s House

The old house that is now Unit No 9 in Krantzkloof Falls Estate dates its antecedents back to the 1930’s when Kloof was a spreading vista of small holdings and farms.

The site on which the house stands was the inheritance in 1903 of Daniel Johannes Field, one of the numerous sons of John Coote Field, the brother of William Swan Field who had since 1845 owned all of what was then Richmond Fam but is now Kloof and its environs.

Research by local historian Adrian Rowe indicates that a portion of the fam was sold to Esther Hughes in 1925 and then a portion of about four acres sold age in on October e 1930 to an Annie Bradey. A relation, Aliek Wallace Bradley, owned an adjoining five acres and these two properties are the current site of Krantzkloof Falls Estate.

Aerial surveyor’s photographs taken in 1937 show a house existing on the site where No 9 now stands. The house is in splendid isolation with only dirt tracks leading to its door across open veld. The nearest substantial establishment is the Johnson’s Springdale dairy along what is now Springdale Road.

The exact date of the erection of the structure is something of a mystery. Casper Nice, previous owner of the house, recollects seeing basic house plans for No 9 dating from the early 1930’s- It is likely, then, that Annie Bradley built the house soon after buying the land.

The next bit of evidence in the trail is a house plan fora Mr E Peppercom dated October 25 1945. Whether this was a complete remake of the original house or an extension is not clear but this pian was certainly the core of what became No 9 as we know it today with its distinctive chimney and upper floor leaded windows.

Subsequent to Mr Peppercorn, various owners had possession of the house and the land. Stables were added and at one stage it was a well-known riding venue, offering the attraction of the numerous bridle paths along and through the gorge.

In 1987 a Mr David Haddon sold the land on which the estate stands to Mr Gareth Bowden. This was subsequently consolidated into the sectional title scheme which is now Krantzkloof Falls Estate.

No 9, now in a very run down state, was bought by Casper and Anne-Marie Nice in 2003 and subjected  restoration. The stone floors and stairways were restored, Broseley tiles bought for the repair of the roof, leaded and stained-glass windows and doors reinstalled, an indoor swimming pool added, the front verandah extended, the kitchen area complemented by a scullery and pantry, a carriage house built above the garages and an additional bathroom added on the upper floor.

The restoration was done faithful to the original style of the house in both materials and aesthetics. Casper waited months to source the tiles he needed for the extension the house. Even the indoor pool has leaded windows and the doors are in keeping with the style of the house.

If Annie Bradley could come back, she would no doubt be very surprised and pleased.

(Thanks to Marilyn Theunisen who found this in an old KFE Newsletter dated December 2007)